Chan Kin-man thinks a non-binding referendum on political reform would help forge a consensus. Photo: Felix Wong

A core organiser of the Occupy Central democracy movement has urged the government to conduct a non-binding referendum to forge consensus on Hongkongers' ideal electoral reform proposal for 2017.

Dr Chan Kin-man, one of the three people spearheading the campaign, said he got no response from Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying when he put the idea forward at a Government House dinner on Thursday night.

"Although it would be a non-binding referendum, the exercise would serve as an important reference of public opinion," Chan said on an RTHK radio programme yesterday morning.

"Even in states like Switzerland where referendums are frequently held, the government organises non-binding plebiscites to learn the public's views," said Chan, a sociologist at Chinese University. "It shows respect for procedural justice."

He added that the government would not necessarily have to follow the favoured proposal but acknowledged the "immense pressure" that would stem from the outcome.

"The government does not have to worry too much about losing though. In foreign examples, people often eventually vote for the milder electoral reform proposals instead of the radical ones," said Chan.

"Even if the government is not holding a plebiscite, Occupy Central is carrying out the exercise to obtain a mandate for the movement anyway," he added.

He said that when he raised the idea at the dinner table some fellow guests claimed the right to conduct referendums applied only in sovereign states.

This week, a letter emerged in which the director of the central government's liaison office, Zhang Xiaoming , rejected the idea of "civil nomination", where candidates for chief executive would be nominated by a proportion of registered voters. But Chan said Zhang had been "too hasty" in concluding that the idea was against the Basic Law.

"The political reform consultation has not even started yet. As Beijing's most senior representative in Hong Kong, Zhang should tolerate different opinions, instead of ruling out certain proposals too hastily," Chan said.

"Even experienced legal scholar [Basic Law Committee member] Albert Chen Hung-yee would not say that at this stage."

But Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan, a vice-chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong who also attended the Thursday dinner, disagreed.

"Any electoral reform proposal has to comply with the Basic Law … but 'civil nomination' may not fulfil requirements stated in Article 45," Cheung said, referring to the clause stating that the nomination has to be made "by a broadly representative nominating committee in accordance with democratic procedures".

Cheung added: "If the proposal is unconstitutional we should not waste time and social resources discussing it."

Another Government House dinner is to be held on Tuesday and the 24-strong guest list obtained by the South China Morning Post shows a mixture of media representatives, pan-democrats, academics, labour unionists and representatives from the business and professional sectors.

One guest is Kevin Ho Chi-ming, secretary general in the election office of Henry Tang Ying-yen, Leung's defeated rival in last year's chief executive race.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as C.Y. urged to hold referendum on electoral reform

How can the governed have a say in their own governance. The duty of the governed is to follow dutifully the orders of the rulers. To have the governed thinking for themselves could lead to disharmony. The masters in Beijing know how we need to be ruled, with a firm hand so we stay focused on collecting shiny things and not on taking part in how our lives are lived. How can people be so foolish as to expect they are to be consulted on how they wish government to work. Absurd. Governing is for the emperor, oops, the Party.

I just can't see why the public cannot have a say on political reform since as our national father, Dr.Sun Yet-sen said,'politics is the governance of everyman's affairs' !

Hollander323 Sep 13th 20133:23pm

what ? the heading of the article shocked me.."let pubic have say on political reform" ...dear editor ..did you mean it? you are so funny?

johnh Sep 13th 20134:58pm

The people have the power

for whom the be... Sep 13th 20134:52pm

never a Hong Kong spring which will only bring us bloodshed instead but a non-binding referendum might not be a bad idea since as professor Chan claims, it can bring the government to a better understanding of the ideas of the public on the electoral reform proposal to be released by the Leung administraiton soon in next year !